Commitment is Vin Diesel’s middle name, given how he has dedicated himself to the Fast & Furious franchise for around two decades. From street racing to heists, and even launching a car into space (yes, that happened), he has steered Dom Toretto’s journey like a true family man. Therefore, when it came to casting someone to play his brother in F9: The Fast Saga, it became an anxious task for the star.
But then John Cena showed up as one of the biggest surprises in the saga, playing Dom’s long-lost brother, Jakob Toretto, in F9. Now, Cena’s casting wasn’t just a studio decision because, according to Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker had something to do with it. Yep, get ready for a story that’s all about fate, family, and a little Hollywood magic!
Vin Diesel reflected on the anxiousness prior to casting Jakob Toretto
Vin Diesel has spent over two decades behind the Fast & Furious franchise’s wheel, ensuring that every film has more speed, more stunts, and—most importantly—more family. Over the years, he has steered Dominic Toretto’s journey like a true ride-or-die and has been through some tough times, including the loss of his friend and co-star Paul Walker.
However, according to the actor, the real difficulty appeared when it came to the casting of Dom’s long-lost brother in F9: The Fast Saga. Well, considering how Diesel had built the action-packed billion-dollar franchise centered around the idea of family for years, it was undoubtedly tough for him to introduce someone new who could stand toe-to-toe with him.
Considering how his casting decision would later impact the success of the franchise, the actor mentioned feeling anxious about the whole process. Had it been some other character, Diesel might not have felt this exact level of pressure. But since it required him to find someone who looked like he could be Dom’s brother and also had the screen presence, physicality, and emotional depth to make it work, Diesel mentioned how the nerves kicked in.
Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Diesel shared:
Obviously, I’m multicultural. You could’ve cast anybody to be my brother. For two months before I went into filming, I created a shrine where I could do all the combat training, all the stunts and I had the Charger there to simulate the garage to get into the Dom state of mind.
Now the idea of the brother worked great on paper, but when the time came to cast it, anxiety. Who could you cast to be Dom’s brother and 20 years into the game? The audience knows our mythology so much.
Since audiences and fans were aware of the Fast & Furious franchise, its storyline, mythology, and the characters involved, Vin Diesel felt nervous while trying to find someone who could be a believable brother, a formidable opponent, as well as someone who could carry the franchise’s legacy forward. He almost implied waiting for a sign. And guess what? According to Diesel, that sign came in a way he never expected.
Vin Diesel believed Paul Walker had a role to play in John Cena’s casting
Now, this is where things get interesting. Because while Vin Diesel was struggling to find someone who could fit the shoes of Jakob Toretto, 16-time WWE champion John Cena just happened to walk in for an audition. Much like us, failing to understand how Cena appeared for the role, Diesel swore how he felt like Paul Walker sent the WWE legend to him.
Yes, the guy whose catchphrase is literally, “you can’t see me,”, turned out to be the most ironic casting. Honestly, no one saw his Fast & Furious casting coming. According to Diesel, Cena just happened to walk in, all-suited, to appear for Jakob Toretto’s audition. And that’s when something clicked. It wasn’t just Cena’s action-star background or his ability to sell a punch, but Diesel felt an unspoken energy as if the late Paul Walker was giving him a nudge from beyond.
During his interview with Kelly Clarkson and several other outlets, Diesel has repeatedly described Cena’s casting as something almost supernatural. Whether you believe in fate or not, you have to admit—that’s a pretty wild claim. But, for Diesel, it wasn’t just a feeling—he simply knew it.
[Cena] comes into the shrine one morning, and I had this strange feeling…that Paul Walker had sent him. [The moment was] very magical.
Speaking with NME, Diesel noted:
One morning John Cena walked in, and I don’t know — people might not get this or might think I’m crazy, but I felt like Paul Walker had sent him in to play Jakob. And I didn’t think about it anymore, I said, ‘That’s Jakob.’ And the rest is history.
For long-time fans of the Fast & Furious franchise, the idea of Paul Walker somehow influencing John Cena’s casting from beyond is emotional. Walker’s presence is still deeply felt in the Fast saga, even after his tragic passing in 2013. The franchise has gone to great lengths to honor his legacy, from keeping Brian O’Conner’s character alive in the story to paying heartfelt tributes in every film. So, in a way, Diesel’s belief that Walker had a hand in this casting choice feels fitting.
John Cena wanted to meet Vin Diesel’s expectations following his comments
After Vin Diesel’s comments went viral on social media, several outlets started addressing them. Business Insider reached out to John Cena to learn about his reaction. That’s when, during a Zoom interview, the WWE champion mentioned how flattering it was for him to get welcomed into the Fast & Furious franchise and also exhibit the energy of being guided by the late Paul Walker’s spirit.
Reflecting on Diesel’s heartfelt comments regarding Paul Walker, John Cena then noted how he felt pressured to meet his co-star’s expectations. While he knew that stepping into the Fast & Furious universe, that too as Dom Toretto’s brother, wasn’t going to be easy, Cena mentioned how the added expectations of honoring Walker felt like a huge challenge.
I think that’s the most flattering thing that someone in the Fast Family could possibly say… Hearing something like that, man. Certainly, you have expectations to want to do your best. The importance and the gravity of a statement like that is not lost on me.
So, eventually, John Cena didn’t just show up and flex his muscles. He wanted to make Jakob a real character, not just a plot device. He worked closely with Diesel to understand Jakob’s backstory, motivations, and—most importantly—his complicated relationship with Dom. One of the biggest challenges was making sure that Jakob felt like a Toretto. After all, this was a guy who had been completely absent from the previous eight films.
Based on that conversation and the response that he got later on, I was offered an invite to join the ‘Fast Family’. [And] amazingly enough, I wasn’t worried [about my character] because I didn’t come up with the character.
Had I come up with the character, like, ‘Hey, listen, it’d be cool if I joined the franchise and I think I should be this,” they might’ve looked around being, ‘Impossible,’.
In the end, whether or not you believe Vin Diesel’s story about Paul Walker’s spiritual influence, there’s no denying that John Cena’s casting was a game-changer for the franchise. Jakob Toretto added a new layer to Dom’s story, giving fans a deeper look into his past, his struggles, and his unshakable belief in family. And let’s be honest—if Walker did have a hand in choosing Cena, he definitely would’ve picked someone who understands the importance of family.
After all, in the world of Fast & Furious, one thing is always true: Family is forever.
F9: The Fast Saga is currently available on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
